P: ISSN NO.: 2394-0344 E: ISSN NO.: 2455 - 0817 Vol-III * Issue- III* August - 2016 Meerut City as Smart City and hub of Travel and Tourism Abstract There is hue and cry to make Meerut as smart city form last few weeks in the state U.P. Why did the name of Meerut city not been listed in the list of smart city of Uttar Pradesh. The author strongly put many facts which are sufficient to make this city in the list of smart city. Jain temples of Hastinapur, St. John's Church, Augarnath Temple, Jama Masjid, Martyr's Memorial (Shaheed Smarak), Shahi Eid Gaah, Parikshitgarh, Dargah of Baley Miyan, Suraj Kund, Gah mukteshwar ( Pious place of Hinus), Begam samru charch at Sardhana, nearly 20 km far from Meerut city, Pandeshwar temple, Historical Gurdwara and Hastinapur Sanctuary are worth being seen. So it can be developed as hub of tourism and Travel. Keywords: UPSIDC, NCR Zone, UP West Zone, DIMTS, UPSRTC, NHDP Please Send Introduction The Uttar Pradesh government had shortlisted 18 cities of the one passport size photo in state to be developed under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi‟s „Smart City Mission‟. The state‟s Urban development department had, according to our mail id sources, sent a proposal to the Union government‟s Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) containing the list of cities along with their specialities which, the state government believes, qualifies them to be included in the ambitious scheme.“The project was in the pipeline for long. Kavita Saxena The state had sent the list of 18 cities to the Union government. The Union Cabinet cleared the Smart City Mission proposal of developing 100 smart Assistant Professor, cities across the country. Officials said that under the scheme, each city Deptt.of Economics, would get Central assistance of Rs 100 Crore per year for five years aimed D. N. College, at making the cities more liveable by recasting the urban landscape. Meerut, U.P “The cities that had been included in the proposal include Lucknow, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Agra, Meerut, Mathura, Moradabad, Ghaziabad, Bareilly, Aligarh, Jhansi, Gorakhpur, Saharanpur, Faizabad, Ayodhya, Rampur and Muzaffarnagar,” said the official. Officials said that the cities would be selected through a „City Challenge Competition‟ by considering the financing aspects and, of course, the ability to be turned smart as per the mission objectives. Union Government has accepted 14 cities for smart city and declared 13 cities in the list of smart cities excluding Meerut and Rae Bareilly but giving state a choice to select one more city in the in this list in Uttar Pradesh. State Government accepted Rae Bareilly due to the constituency of Sonia Gandhi and left Meerut from the list. There is hue and cry to make Meerut as smart city form last few weeks. Why did Meerut not been listed in the list of smart city of Uttar Pradesh. The author strongly put many facts which are sufficient to make any city as smart one. Strong Points Why Meerut should be Smart City and hub of Travel and Tourism? Strong Geographical Background Meerut is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is an ancient city with settlements dating back to the Indus Valley civilization having been found in and around the area. Meerut is the largest city in NCR after Delhi. The city lies between the plains of the Ganges and those of the Yamuna. In area Meerut District covers 2,522 km2 (974 sq mi), which is larger than Delhi (Delhi covers an area of 1,484 km2 [573 sq mi]) Meerut population is 3,443,689, which is three times less than Delhi. The city lies 70 km (43 mi) northeast of the national capital New Delhi, and 453 km (281 mi) northwest of the state capital, Lucknow. It is the second largest city in the National Capital Region of India (the largest being Delhi), and as of 2011 the 33rd most populous urban agglomeration and the 26th most populous city in India. It ranked 292 in 2006 and is projected to rank 242 in 2020 in the list of largest cities and urban areas in 1 P: ISSN NO.: 2394-0344 E: ISSN NO.: 2455 - 0817 Vol-III * Issue- III* August - 2016 the world. The municipal area (as of 2001) is and remains of Buddhist structures were found near 141.89 km2 (54.78 sq mi) with the cantonment the Jama Masjid in the present day city. TheAshoka covering 35.68 km2 (3,568.06 ha). The city is one of Pillar, at Delhi ridge, next to the „Bara Hindu the largest producers of sports goods, and the largest Rao Hospital‟, near Delhi University, was carried producer of musical instruments in India. The city is to Delhi from Meerut, by Firuz Shah Tughluq (r. 1351– also an education hub in western Uttar Pradesh. 1388); it was later damaged in a 1713 explosion, and Glorious History restored in 1867. The city may have derived its name from In the eleventh century AD, the south-west Maya Rashtra, the capital of the kingdom part of the district was ruled by Har Dat, the Dor of Mayasura, Mandodari's father andRavana's father- Raja of Bulandshahr who built a fort, which was long in-law. This name may have mutated to Mairashtra, known for its strength and finds mention in Ain-i- Mai-dant-ka-khera, Mairaath and eventually Meerut. Akbari. He was later defeated by Mahmud Ghazni in According to another version, Maya (sura), being a 1018. A prominent local landmark, the Jama Masjid, distinguished architect, received from dates from this period and is said to have been built King Yudhisthira the land on which the city of Meerut by Mahmud's vizir. Shortly after its capture the city now stands and he called this place Mayarashtra, a was regained by the local Hindu Raja and part of his name which in the course of time became shortened fortifications, built for the city‟s defence, survived until to Meerut. Tradition also has it that the city formed a recent times. The first big invasion on the city came part of the dominions of Mahipala, the king later in 1192 AD, from Mohammad Ghori, when his of Indraprastha, and the word Meerut is associated general Qutb-ud-din Aybak attacked the city, and a with his name. much worse fate lay ahead for the district, which Interesting details about Ancient Period links came with the invasion of Timur in 1398, during which of Meerut. Some of them are as follows the Rajputs offered a tough resistance at the fort 1. There is a village called "Balani" in Meerut of Loni, where he fought the Sultan of District. It is said that here was the Ashram of Delhi, Muhammad Tughlaq. But, eventually they were Balmiki where Sita stayed after getting disposed all defeated. Thereafter he went on to attack Delhi, by Lord Ram. It is same place where Love-Kush where he again massacred the local population, and was born and Sita submerged into Earth. returned to attack Meerut town, then ruled by 2. There is another village named as 'Gangol' just an Afghan chief, Ilias, and took the city in two days, 7km away from Meerut on Meerut- Delhi road. It leading to widespread devastation, before heading has a pond and an ancient temple. It is said to be north once again. the place of Vishvamitra Yaga Bhumi. It now has The city then came under the rule of a big Milk cooperative dairy plant and supplies the Mughal Empire and saw a period of relative milk in the district with the trade mark 'Parag'. tranquility. During the rule of Mughal Emperor, Akbar 3. There is an ancient Shiv temple in the City just at the Great (r. 1556–1605), there was a mint for copper the back of Sadar Police Station. It is called as coins here. During the decline of the Mughal Empire, 'ValleshwerNath Mandir'. It is said to be the place after the death of Aurangzeb, the city came effectively of worship of Mandodari, daughter of Maydanava under the control of local chieftains, the Saiyids of and later wife of Ravana. Meerut was city of Muzaffarnagar in the north, the Jats in the south-east, Maydanava due to which it original name was and the Gujars along the Ganges and in the south- also said to be 'Maya rastra'. west. The city saw Sikh and Maratha invasions in the 4. Near Meerut is the temple called 'Pura Mahadev' 18th century, with interruptions by Jats and Rohillas. at Bagpat Road. The 'Shiv Linga' in this temple, is Walter Reinhardt, an English soldier, established said to be placed by Loard Parushrama. himself at Sardhana and some parts of the district 5. Meerut is situated in between 'Indraprastha' came under his rule. Upon his death, they came into (Delhi) and 'Hastinapur'. It has various places the hands of Begum Samru. During this time, the related to Mahabharat time.To get to Hastinapur southern part of the district had remained take the Mawana Road from Meerut. under Maratha rule. In 1803, with the fall of Delhi, 6. There is a village named ' Birnava' which is said Daulat Rao Scindia of the Marathas ceded the to be place where a 'Lakshaghaha' was built by territory to the British. The city was made Duryodhan to kill all Panadvas. headquarters of the eponymous district in 1818. 7. There is also a kasba called 'Parikshat Garh' Meerut is famously associated with which was developed by King Parikshat grandson the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British East of Pandava.